Has God revealed the time of the end?

[Rose]

I agree with the clipped points and the rest of your post, but would like to clarify that the 'old' covenant began with Moses, not Abraham. Again read Deut 5:1-3.

Hi Endtimes,

I seek to condense and simplify as much as possible for the sake of clarity. The beginnings of the Old Covenant started with the promise to Abraham and the sign of circumcision. Abraham was the father of the 12 tribes from which came Moses who received the Law. The Old Covenant was for a specific time and people - it had a beginning and a ending.

Rose

[EndtimesDeut32/70AD]

Hi Endtimes,

I seek to condense and simplify as much as possible for the sake of clarity. The beginnings of the Old Covenant started with the promise to Abraham and the sign of circumcision. Abraham was the father of the 12 tribes from which came Moses who received the Law. The Old Covenant was for a specific time and people - it had a beginning and a ending.

Rose

We'll have to agree to disagree on this point.
Romans 4 I think has Paul saying that the law which is the mosaic covenant (deut 5:1-3) was 430 yrs after the Abrahamic covenant and could not anull the Promise. If the Abrahamic Covenant was the "old covenant" which Hebrews talks of as being ready to pass away, then it is anulled by completion. Not so with the everlasting covenant of Mercy. . Just because Paul calls the Abrahamic covenant a 'Covenant' and 'the Promise' and calls the Mosaic covenant, the 'law" does not mean that the Mosaic 'law' was not also a (conditional) Covenant and thus the 'old' covenant that was decaying and falling away. Yes, the parts that were promiesed and prophesied to Abraham concerning the nation and his physical lineage were also fulfilled and ended, but the Promise of justification by faith, of blessing/cursing and of all nations being blessed through Abraham (and his pattern of justification by faith) continue.

See also 2 Cor 3

Thus Paul also along with Jeremiah and Daniel indicates that the 'old' covenant to which Hebrews was referring to had begun east of the Jordan as Moses administered it to them as described in the book of Deuteronomy. Even their calander was based on the first of the 11th month (crossing the Jordan) for a civil calander and the passover for the religious calander.

There were dual covenants (or several) given to Abraham. The Promise of the covenant of Mercy AND the "sign" work that was to ride along with his descendants until the covenant of mercy was fulfilled. But with the fulfilling of the Covenant of Mercy also ended the 'sign' work and also the need for geneological recordkeeping. The descendants of Israel did not circumcise in Egypt (perhaps some did) but restarted before they crossed Jordan.

The promise of individual blessing through justification by faith to all nations that was given to Abraham IS part of everlasting Life and the everlasting covenant of Mercy (Paul calls 'the promise' and the Covenant)

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel were not part of the mosaic "OLD" covenant any more than Noah was part of the 'old' covenant although they all carried the awareness and Promise that God was going to work through them and their lineage to accomplish the promise of Mercy. Their lives were ensamples of soteriology as Paul describes in Rom 9 and as is mentioned for 'law' in Ps 105.

I know that your usually very firm and well thought through with your statements and posts. But there are several points made which identify the 'old covenant' as the conditional/national covenant delivered by Moses as he spoke to them east of the Jordan just as mentioned in Duet 5:1-3. You even mentioned the 40 yr transition period during the first century which coorelates with the 40 yrs between the time of leaving Egypt (passover) and crossing the Jordan River of the formation of the 'old' covenant. It is not adequate to condense and simplify as much as possible for the sake of clarity in view of these several points: but I'd agree to put this aside for some time.

I think this is an issue that is very important in light of zionism also. The land/nation promise was prophesied to Abraham and his descendants as an absolute unconditional future occurance, but the conditional nature of keeping that land to those descendants was clarified and expressed by Moses. I think also that this was part of the association and historical context of what had occured in Babylon, and that being human nature wanting to go ahead of and usurp God using works, counterfeit religion and self-will. Israel is compared to babylon several times and in Deut 32 it describes them as sacrificing to devils.

But AFTER the desolation, I think that the christians did come back and inheirit the land, so that part of the Abrahamic promise also found favor with those of all nations.

Again, we may have to agree to disagree. You say that "the beginnings" of the 'old covenant' began with Abraham, and the prophecies and promises about it did indeed begin there, but the old covenant itself was initiated in Egypt and was later contracted by those crossing the Jordan 40 yrs later. This anti-typed and confirmed the pattern and times and seasons for the enactment and authentication of the covenant of Mercy during the 40 yrs between passover of 30 AD and the favor and protection given to the saints of all nations (Dan 7) of 70 AD.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

If the Abrahamic Covenant was the "old covenant" which Hebrews talks of as being ready to pass away, then it is anulled by completion. Not so with the everlasting covenant of Mercy. . Just because Paul calls the Abrahamic covenant a 'Covenant' and 'the Promise' and calls the Mosaic covenant, the 'law" does not mean that the Mosaic 'law' was not also a (conditional) Covenant and thus the 'old' covenant that was decaying and falling away. Yes, the parts that were promiesed and prophesied to Abraham concerning the nation and his physical lineage were also fulfilled and ended, but the Promise of justification by faith, of blessing/cursing and of all nations being blessed through Abraham (and his pattern of justification by faith) continue.

How do you understand this passage:

Psalm 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant [singular] for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant [singular] he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

It seems to me that there was only one covenant, and this covenant included the land promises.

Note also that the OT never speaks of multiple covenants, and I do not believe that any Israelite living under the Mosaic covenant would have said that it was a "different" covenant than the covenant God made with Abraham. It was an expansion of the covenant God made with Abraham, not a different covenant.

Richard

[Rose]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this point.
Romans 4 I think has Paul saying that the law which is the mosaic covenant (deut 5:1-3) was 430 yrs after the Abrahamic covenant and could not anull the Promise. If the Abrahamic Covenant was the "old covenant" which Hebrews talks of as being ready to pass away, then it is anulled by completion. Not so with the everlasting covenant of Mercy. . Just because Paul calls the Abrahamic covenant a 'Covenant' and 'the Promise' and calls the Mosaic covenant, the 'law" does not mean that the Mosaic 'law' was not also a (conditional) Covenant and thus the 'old' covenant that was decaying and falling away. Yes, the parts that were promiesed and prophesied to Abraham concerning the nation and his physical lineage were also fulfilled and ended, but the Promise of justification by faith, of blessing/cursing and of all nations being blessed through Abraham (and his pattern of justification by faith) continue.

See also 2 Cor 3

Thus Paul also along with Jeremiah and Daniel indicates that the 'old' covenant to which Hebrews was referring to had begun east of the Jordan as Moses administered it to them as described in the book of Deuteronomy. Even their calander was based on the first of the 11th month (crossing the Jordan) for a civil calander and the passover for the religious calander.

There were dual covenants (or several) given to Abraham. The Promise of the covenant of Mercy AND the "sign" work that was to ride along with his descendants until the covenant of mercy was fulfilled. But with the fulfilling of the Covenant of Mercy also ended the 'sign' work and also the need for geneological recordkeeping. The descendants of Israel did not circumcise in Egypt (perhaps some did) but restarted before they crossed Jordan.

The promise of individual blessing through justification by faith to all nations that was given to Abraham IS part of everlasting Life and the everlasting covenant of Mercy (Paul calls 'the promise' and the Covenant)

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel were not part of the mosaic "OLD" covenant any more than Noah was part of the 'old' covenant although they all carried the awareness and Promise that God was going to work through them and their lineage to accomplish the promise of Mercy. Their lives were ensamples of soteriology as Paul describes in Rom 9 and as is mentioned for 'law' in Ps 105.

I know that your usually very firm and well thought through with your statements and posts. But there are several points made which identify the 'old covenant' as the conditional/national covenant delivered by Moses as he spoke to them east of the Jordan just as mentioned in Duet 5:1-3. You even mentioned the 40 yr transition period during the first century which coorelates with the 40 yrs between the time of leaving Egypt (passover) and crossing the Jordan River of the formation of the 'old' covenant. It is not adequate to condense and simplify as much as possible for the sake of clarity in view of these several points: but I'd agree to put this aside for some time.

I think this is an issue that is very important in light of zionism also. The land/nation promise was prophesied to Abraham and his descendants as an absolute unconditional future occurance, but the conditional nature of keeping that land to those descendants was clarified and expressed by Moses. I think also that this was part of the association and historical context of what had occured in Babylon, and that being human nature wanting to go ahead of and usurp God using works, counterfeit religion and self-will. Israel is compared to babylon several times and in Deut 32 it describes them as sacrificing to devils.

But AFTER the desolation, I think that the christians did come back and inheirit the land, so that part of the Abrahamic promise also found favor with those of all nations.

Again, we may have to agree to disagree. You say that "the beginnings" of the 'old covenant' began with Abraham, and the prophecies and promises about it did indeed begin there, but the old covenant itself was initiated in Egypt and was later contracted by those crossing the Jordan 40 yrs later. This anti-typed and confirmed the pattern and times and seasons for the enactment and authentication of the covenant of Mercy during the 40 yrs between passover of 30 AD and the favor and protection given to the saints of all nations (Dan 7) of 70 AD.

I'm just going to address a couple of your points which I highlighted in red.

Instead of being annulled by completion, I would say the Old Covenant was fulfilled by serving its purpose, which was being the "schoolmaster" that led to Christ. The New has fulfilled the Old, and the Old is completely vanished away.

There was only one Old Covenant, being a composite of many parts. It was initiated with Abraham by the sign of circumcision, and circumcision continued as the sign of the Old Covenant through all the tribes of Israel, until the ushering in of the New Covenant, when the fleshly type was replace by circumcision of the heart.
.

Psalm 105:9-10 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

Rose

[EndtimesDeut32/70AD]

[QUOTE]

How do you understand this passage:

Psalm 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant [singular] for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant [singular] he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

It seems to me that there was only one covenant, and this covenant included the land promises.

I think this refers to the people of the everlasting covenant of Mercy.

Note also that the OT never speaks of multiple covenants, and I do not believe that any Israelite living under the Mosaic covenant would have said that it was a "different" covenant than the covenant God made with Abraham. It was an expansion of the covenant God made with Abraham, not a different covenant.

Yes, it does; Read the post where it includes Deut 5:1-3.

And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, [even] us, who [are] all of us here alive this day.

When Moses stated that God made a covenant with them in Horeb and the covenant was not made with their fathers, I believe that he was including Abe,Isaac,Jacob with the 'fathers'. The Mosaic conditional/national covenant was made only with those who crossed the red sea and then turned to idolatry. It was the negative covenant and could never justtify. Even Moses did not want to be part of the covenant and struck the Rock twice signifying his alliance with the people of the second Covenant.... the everlasting covenant of Mercy and eternal LIFE. The everlasting covenant (called 'my' covenant) to Noah and Abraham and promise of mercy (against the law of sin/death; rom 8:2) also rode above and within the mosaic covenant people and especially the prophets. Salvation or justification was never wrought by keeping or attempting to keep the land/nation/conditional covenant of Deuteronomy. I invite you to read the book of Deut in one sitting.

The Edenic, Noahidic, and at least the first parts of the covenants made to Abraham reflect on the promise of the everlasting covenant of MERCY. The same covenant is referred to in Dan 9:26 as the covenant confirmed and/or established in the midst of the week by Christ.

In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.

When was there introduced a 'new' covenant? Answer, Jeremiah 31. What is the "New" covenant contrasted against? When he says, a new covenant, he hath made the first 'old'. Which covenant was identified in Jeremiah and Heb 8 as the covenant that was made "old" by the new?

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Read again Deut 5:1-3. This is the covenant that is made 'old' by the new. Paul calls this the "law" in Romans 3, but here in Duet 5:1-3 and in Jeremiah and I'm sure elsewhere it is called a 'covenant'. The 'mosaic covenant' or 'law' could not disannull the Promise of individually recieved everlasting covenant of Mercy. In 2 Cor 3, Paul calls this "old" covenant the administration of death. It was entered into and agreed to by the people as a whole as they became a 'nation' by crossing over the Jordan.
Deut 27:9. And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people (nation) of the LORD thy God.

The contract of conditionally following the law to maintain blessed in the land was the mosaic covenant. The contract is basically laid out in the book of Deuteronomy as Moses spoke from east of the Jordan River. It is this covenant that is made "old" to the children of Israel when Jeremiah delivers the "new" covenant. But even it's negative purpose was fulfilled when the events of the 'new' covenant supplanted the times and seasons (and festivals) established by this mosaic covenant.

I really hope you take the time to research and reflect on these things with requests given to the Spirit. I think they are important concepts to see.

Just as the rainbow covenant was additional to the 'my covenant' [of mercy] that was given to Noah, so also I think that the geneological promises and perhaps the land/nation prophecy and forecasted event were additional to the primiary covenant of Mercy that was passed and expanded through Abraham.

[EndtimesDeut32/70AD]

It was initiated with Abraham by the sign of circumcision, and circumcision continued as the sign of the Old Covenant through all the tribes of Israel, until the ushering in of the New Covenant, when the fleshly type was replace by circumcision of the heart.
[/INDENT]Rose

Jeremiah 31 says that the 'old' covenant was that one that was made when God took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Dan 9 uses the same phrase to refer to the people who suffered the curse of the law (covenant) of Moses as described in Deuteronomy. The same idea is given in 2 Cor 3 when it calls the 'old covenant' the administration of death. The covenant given to Abraham was not the administration of death.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

How do you understand this passage:

Psalm 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant [singular] for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant [singular] he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

It seems to me that there was only one covenant, and this covenant included the land promises.

I think this refers to the people of the everlasting covenant of Mercy.

Why do you say that? The covenant spoken of in Psalm 105 clearly includes the "land covenant" and it also refers to the covenant as the "law" (as in "law of Moses"). Clearly, all the "covenants" were just an expansion of a single covenant - that's what Galatians tells us: The Law was added to the covenant.

[Rose]

Jeremiah 31 says that the 'old' covenant was that one that was made when God took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Dan 9 uses the same phrase to refer to the people who suffered the curse of the law (covenant) of Moses as described in Deuteronomy. The same idea is given in 2 Cor 3 when it calls the 'old covenant' the administration of death. The covenant given to Abraham was not the administration of death.

In reading Galations carefully you will see that Paul clearly says that the Law was added to the Covenant God made with Abraham because of transgressions. The Covenant God made with Abraham which was sealed with the sign of circumcision did not change it was expanded to include the Law because of the sins of the people, but the adding of the Law did not annul the promises -they still remained and were fulfilled in Christ - who ushered in the eternal Promised Land, thus fulfilling ALL THE PROMISES.
.

Gal.3:16- Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Rose

[EndtimesDeut32/70AD]

Why do you say that? The covenant spoken of in Psalm 105 clearly includes the "land covenant" and it also refers to the covenant as the "law" (as in "law of Moses"). Clearly, all the "covenants" were just an expansion of a single covenant - that's what Galatians tells us: The Law was added to the covenant.

The land was given as an arena for the nation to both posess and for God to display his workings in that Nation. With the end of the nation came the end of the land posession for that purposes. But there is a sense that Abraham was also given all the land that he could walk upon in one day. Basically the land of his testimony and influence. That part of the "land" covenant I believe continues in the indwelling presence of the Spirit and the arena of our interactions and engagements.

This is just an opinon and perspective that I have, not alot to reference and back it up. It may not be accurate.

And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law,

This is not the 'law of moses'. The law of moses was laid out in Deuteronomy and parts of Exodus, Leviticus, etc. It was a conditional performance based contract that if the people of the idolatry (golden calf) did everything that Moses had commanded them, they would remain blessed in the land. If they failed, they would be cursed. And their failure and utter destruction was prophesied as the law was given. That is what Deut 32 is about... the end of the conditional nation that was given the conditional law of Moses.

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

The 'law' was added when they began worshipping the Golden calf and due to the transgressions and idolotrous natures that they would have picked up in Egypt. I don't read Gal 3 as attatching the law to the covenant as that would change the covenant. I read it as adding a seperate contract or covenant of conditional law with the words "added" referring to coming afterwards in time. That fits with the context of his mentioning the 430 yrs later in time.

And that is what is said in Deut 5:1-3. Again, there Moses says that this covenant (the law) that he made with them that day was NOT made with their fathers, but only them which were alive there this day. It is a seperate covenant and yes due to their transgressions of idolatry as is described in Deut 4,5.

If the "OLD" 'covenant' BEGAN with Abraham and it is called "my covenant" to him, What is the covenant that is also called "my covenant" to Noah?

Noah:
Gen 6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Gen 9:9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

Gen 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

With the word Neither, I think it shows that the promise associated with the rainbow was added and seperate but somehow attatched to the "my Covenant" of mercy. I.E. the edenic covenant.

Shutting up the vapor and oxygen canopy could have been the manner in which to shorten the lifespan. (speculation).

Abraham:
Gen 17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

There are more that I skipped for brevity.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/searc...covenant&t=KJV


Again, we have the definition of which Covenant was to be made OLD by it's inferiority and inadequacies as described in Hebrews right in Jeremiah 31. And it refers to the covenant he made when he took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt (with a mighty hand it says elsewhere in Dan 9 I think). Thus it's referring to the law which is called a covenant in 2 Cor 3.

2Cr 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;(testament and Covenant are the same word) which [vail] is done away in Christ. 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.


Again, the Abrahamic covenant was not 'annulled' and made old due to inadequacies and inferiorities as described of the old covenant in Heb and 2 Cor 3 but fulfilled and it's promises are still alive in the reality of the Holy Spirit. The 'mosaic' covenant was inferior, called the ministry of condemnation, ministry of death etc etc. It is the covenant that is made 'old' by the promise of the fulfillment of the covenant of Life and Mercy which was enacted in ways that fulfilled and made real the types and figures of the Mosaic covenant; thus making the mosaic covenant old through a NEW covenant given to the house of Israel/Judah (I.E. the mosaic covenant nation begun when the crossed the Jordan River).

When we begin to seperate the Mosaic covenant from the "my covenant" (of Life and Mercy and adoption of Sonship through justification by faith) we begin to understand the picturers of blessing that was given to the 'latter' son who is served by the elder. It was Isaac, not Ishmael, Jacob not Esau; Ephraim, not Manassah. Ishmael, Esau, Manassah represented the people of the then future conditinal mosaic law of the idolotrous uncircumcised heart (Duet 4), while Isaac, Jacob and EPHRAIM represent the latter son of the people of Grace of the covenant of LIFE and Mercy and adoption as sons/daughters. Paul refers to this in Gal 4 and Barnabus uses the example of Manassah/Ephraim in his letters.
The mosaic covenant and it's people in both a negative and contrasting way and through the types of Christ in the mosaic covenant administration served the people of the covenant of life and Mercy that are found in all peoples, nations, tongues including Ishmaelites.

The mosaic covenant contained some opposite characteristics and principles of the covenant of Life and Mercy which is through justification by faith. This is another reason to seperate and identify the Mosaic covneant as the 'old covenant' because it's principles and characteristics should not be followed either.

Perhaps we could set this discussion aside for some time until some of the passages and ideas presented would be reviewed.
I seem to be repeating ideas already covered without having the passages presented reviewed. I'll check back later.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

The land was given as an arena for the nation to both posess and for God to display his workings in that Nation. With the end of the nation came the end of the land posession for that purposes. But there is a sense that Abraham was also given all the land that he could walk upon in one day. Basically the land of his testimony and influence. That part of the "land" covenant I believe continues in the indwelling presence of the Spirit and the arena of our interactions and engagements.

I don't see how this contradicts my primary point that the "land promises" were part of the covenant made with Abraham, and that this same covenant was extended when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.

The 'law' was added when they began worshipping the Golden calf and due to the transgressions and idolotrous natures that they would have picked up in Egypt.

Your comment makes no sense to me. The "Law" that was added refers to the Law given to Moses on Sinai.

I don't read Gal 3 as attatching the law to the covenant as that would change the covenant. I read it as adding a seperate contract or covenant of conditional law with the words "added" referring to coming afterwards in time. That fits with the context of his mentioning the 430 yrs later in time.

Why then did Paul discuss adding or changing an existing covenant? If your opinion were correct, would he have had any reason to discuss the addition of the law to the pre-existing covenant?

And that is what is said in Deut 5:1-3. Again, there Moses says that this covenant (the law) that he made with them that day was NOT made with their fathers, but only them which were alive there this day. It is a seperate covenant and yes due to their transgressions of idolatry as is described in Deut 4,5.

When Moses said that, he was indicating that LAW, as an expansion of the covenant made with the fathers, was not itself the covenant made with the fathers. This does not mean it is an additional covenant separate from the one that it was expanding upon.

It seems to me that there is a very simple way to settle this question. Is there anything anywhere in the Bible that would indicate any Israelite ever believed that they were living under "two covenants" - one made with Abraham and a completely separate covenant made with Moses? To my knowledge, there never has been a Jew that would assert that he lived under "two covenants" like that.

If the "OLD" 'covenant' BEGAN with Abraham and it is called "my covenant" to him, What is the covenant that is also called "my covenant" to Noah?

Noah:
Gen 6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Gen 9:9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

Gen 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

With the word Neither, I think it shows that the promise associated with the rainbow was added and seperate but somehow attatched to the "my Covenant" of mercy. I.E. the edenic covenant.

The Bible says nothing of any "edenic covenant."

I don't see any "attachment" between the covenants with Noah and Abraham. Does Scripture elaborate on that theme at all? And even if there were a connection, I don't see how it is relevant. The definitive Biblical statement of the continuity of the covenant begins with Abraham and continues through to the Law given by Moses to Israel:

Psalm 105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. 7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: ... 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; 45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws [TORAH]. Praise ye the LORD.

It seems to me that the continuity of the covenant from Abraham through Moses is one of the most obvious and fundamental truths of Scripture. Can you find me any Jewish scholars who say they were under two different covenants?

I'll answer the rest of your points in another post.

Richard